CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18551, 8 November 1923, Page 11

CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE.

IKE ANNUAL CONFERENCE. V FIELD FOR DISCUSSION. ; PRELIMINARY REMITS. A wide range of subjects is to be covered in the discussion a€ the annual conference of the Chambers of Commerce, (which will be Held at Auckland on November 21 and 22. Some of the more important of the preliminary remits, which are yet subject to are as follows :-— That the Government be urged to relieve the present unfairly imposed burden upon the general taxpayer by altering the incidence of income tax in accordance with the recommendations of the Taxation Commission — (a) By the inclusion of dividends in shareholders' individual assessments instead of a levy upon the total income of registered companies, (b) By providing that taxation upon income d» rived from debenture securities be the game as that from mortgages. (c) By taxation of State and municipal undertakings upon the same scale as that applied to privately-owned ventures with which they come into competition. (Auckland.) Other remits express satisfaction at the reductione already made, but jmphasise anomalies at present existing. That the time has arrived ■when, in the general interests of the community, the primage duty (which was imposed entirely as a war measure) aliauld be removed. (Dunedin.) Imperial Migration. That £he Dominion should adopt under a -well-considered scheme a progressive policy toward securing a sufficient number of suitable migrants from the United Kingdom each year, and thus provide for the defence, prosperity and progress of New Zealand, and at the same tima assist in relieving the Mother Country of a portion of her surplus population. (Wellington.) That the Government be urged to formulate and adopt? a practical and progressive land settlement and immigration policy. (Te Kuiti.) That whereas the statutory minimum wage is based upon the assumed requirements of a married man with two children and whereas the responsibilities of three-fourths of the wage-earners are admittedly less than the scale adopted is designed to meet—therefore Parliament or the Arbitration Court be urged to consider the possibility of relieving Che community from the burden of such overpayment, thereby leaving a margin wherewith to provide assistance for those with larger families (Auckland.) That this conference urge the Government to pass legislation to provide that in all cases where public interests are liable to ba affected, and particularly when the issue relates to strikes, trade union ballots shall be placed under the solo control of public officials, rind entirely removed from the sphere of those who are concerned to see a • certain resulC brought about. (Hastings.) Freights and Hails. That the conference reaffirm the resolution passed at the conference in Christchurch in 1921, as to the necessity for a flat rate of freight being a condition of future Pacific mail contracts, expresses satisfaction that it is proposed by the department to invite alternative tenders specifying at flaC rate, and strongly urges "acceptance of tenders on that basis. (Dunedin.) That the present methods of arranging overseas freights and mail service by separate and independent authorities is not in the best interest* of consumers and producers. That Che time is opportune, and that the Government should be requested to secure the necessary powers to appoint a National Shipping Committee composed of representatives of the Meat Control Board, Postal Department!. Associated Chambers of Commerce, and Dairy Producers' Associations. (InvcrcargilL) That this conference is of opinion that the present railway tariff is unsatisfactory and obsolete, and should be reviewed with tht'i object of the removal of the .anomalies that now exist. (Wellington.', That this conference disapprove of Government interference with trading, and also with the accepting of financial obligations by the Government in connection with marketing pools. (Wellington.) The Banking System.

That (a) As a matter of equity and ■with the object of attracting a larger amount of liquid money for the financing of commercial enterprise, the banks be asked to pay interest on credit balances of current accounts of £100 and over; (b) that . the half-yearly charge of 5s for keeping customers' accounts be abolished; (c) that all internal exchanges on cheques be abolished. (Auckland.) That the Government be urged to inquire into the justification for the recent extraordinary fluctuations in ■ exchange upon remittances to and from New Zealand. (Auckland.) \ . . That the conference is of opinion that the future policy of the Dominion regarding she development of hydro-elec-tric power should be on the line* of entrustng same to private enterprise under proper Safeguards, and that the Government should not itself undertake the development of any further schemes. (Wellington.) ' . , , That it be a recommendation to the Government to collect from owners _of all motor vehicles an annual license iee, also an annual license fee from all drivers, the money so raised to be devoted to the improvement of roads. Also that the Government be the only licensing authority. . (Invercargiil.) That the Government be urged to take special measures during the currency of the British Empire Exhibition to. press on British capitalists the Domm'ons great potentialities for the investment of British capital. » (WeUwgton.) .*. That the provision of the Companies Act requiring full subscription of the original capita of a private company be maae equally applicable to subsequent capital issues. (Auckland.) , That Government, be recommended to take action to provide that all W of dues should have representation on harbour boards. ' (Napier.) Other Matters for Consideration. Other suggestions are for the revision of h PoTand Telegraph */ —i accounting systems, and fcrtoj t.on of the stamp duty on cnequ.es and re ceipts to one fSa^l^Ji lateSI ateS *? fhe 01 BntTsh^Empire 6 Exhibition time of «» B ntisn « cham . or Wards a remit recommending all members and business «W«g«JJj give every possible ffpport to din Exhibition. A *&>&&£ in f by advancing the clock one Jour in sum mer, is supported by the "towng* WanganuiWs.the **gj£: to Ausword "Australasia in r eferen question tralia and New Zealand, « d b of abolishing grand J?™*} 8 alf holiday Napier, while the universal half«« * is advocated by Palroerston Worthy to Periodical visits of. " tish^ at ff "being overseas Dominions are urged as W»ng : beneficial, while an adequate app New ation for the liberal adverting; q{ Zealand is put forward as a J 6 "™., lack constant chorus of complaints at the of publicity.